Bridging



Oct. 1, 1929;` J. N. HELTZEL BRIDGING Filed July 2, 1927 abbot nag Patented oct. 1, 1929 j i 1,729,741

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN N. HELTZEL, OF WARREN, OHIO BRIDGING Application filed July 2, 1927.V Serial No. 203,110.

The present invention relates to bridging oblique lines 12 whose ends extend to the :for wood and metal joists, concrete forms opposite edges of the blank, with the inner and other spaced members, and aims to proend portions of the lines 12 in overlapping vide such bridging composed of novel and relation. The portions of' the blank beyond improved braces which are capable of withthe lines 12 are bent at right angles to the in- 55 standing both compression and tensile strains. termediate portion 13 between the lines 12. Another object of the invention is the protoward the same side. This produces` as seen vision of sucli braces formed from bars'or in Fig. 3, the web 13 tapering to its enes, strips of sheet metal in a novel manner, so and the flanges 14 extending toward the same as to be inexpensive as well as'practical and side from the web and increasing in width 60 ellicieiit. toward their opposite ends` with the inner A further object is the provision of end portions of the flanges 12in overlapping bridging comprising crossed and pivoted relation. The width of the web 13, between braces which may be adjusted and readily the lines or bends 12 is slightly narrower 15 applied to the joists or other spaced members. than the width of the blank, and the flanges 65 With the foregoing and other objects in 14 will stiften the brace transversely so that View, which will be apparent as the descripthe brace may receive considerable comprestion proceeds, the invention resides in the sion without bending or collapsing. The construction and arrangement of' parts, as flanges 14 having their inner end portions in hereinafter described and claimed, it being overlapping relation will strengthen the 70 understood that changes can be made within brace at its central point. The brace has the the scope of what is claimed, without deflat terminal portions 15 extending beyond parting from the spirit of the invention. the ends of the flanges 14 or forming exten- Tlie invention is illustrated in the accomsions of said flanges, and the flanges 14 have panying drawing, whereinlugs 16 struck therefrom at the ends of the 75 Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating web 1 3. The web 13 has an aperture 17 at the one of the bridges applied to metal joists of center of the brace between the inner end I Section' portions of the flanges 14.

' 'Fig 2 is a plan view of one of the blanks Two of such braces are disposed back to from which the braces are formed. back, and a rivet 18 or other pivot'element 80 Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofl the brace is secured through the registering apertures' formed from the blank shown in Fig. 2l 17. thereby connecting the braces in crossed Fig. 4 is an elevation of a bridge of modirelation with the flanges 14 of the braces eX- fied form applied to metal joists of another tending in opposite directions. This pertype, mits the braces to be swung relatively'to one 85 Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modified bridge another without Ainterterence. The bridge showing same disposed between and attached may thus be folded and the braces may be to wooden joists. adjusted to different angles relatively to one Fig. 6 is an elevation showing bridges of another.

1.10 modified form applied to the, spaced boards Fig. 1 illustrates a bridge applied to the 90 or wall members of a concrete form. or the metal joists 19 of Lsection. The terminal like. portions 15 extend across the llanges of the Figl is a` detail view illustrating a further joists or beams 19 and are bent around the modification. flanges at tlie oposite sides of the joists, to

Each bridge is composed of a pair of form hooks 20. The bridgertlius prevents 95 crossed and pivoted braces, and each brace separation of the joists and t-lie braces will is formed from an elongated sheet metal serve as tension members to resist separation blank. as seen in Fig. 2, which may be a bar of the joists. The lugs 16 contact with the or strip of metal. The blank which is bent flanges of the joists at the adjacent sides of 00 to produce the brace 11, is bent on parallel said joists, and will therefore prevent the 100 joists from moving toward one another, so

. upper and lower portions of the joists to form hooks, as seen in Fig. 4, to resist separation of the joists, and the braces have the lugs 16a contacting with the joists to take up the compression strain between them.

' Fig. 5 illustrates the terminal portions 15b ofthe braces as being bent to bear against the adjacent sides of wooden joists 19h, and fastened thereto by the nails or other securing elements 24.

Fig. 6 illustrates the bridges as used for spacing the side boards or wall members 19c of a concrete form or similar structure` the I terminal portions 15c of the braces extending across the edges of the boards or members and being bent so as to hold said boards or members in relative spaced position.

Fig. 7 illustrates the terminal portion 15d overlapping the abutting end portions of two alining joists, with a pair of lugs 16, one

engaging each joist, so that the bridge may serve as a joint for connecting the joists or maintaining them in alinement.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is zl. A brace comprising flanges and a web between them, with the bends between the flanges and web arranged obliquely of the brace, and the inner .ends of the flanges being arranged close together. v

2. A brace comprising flanges, a web between them, with the bends between the flanges and web arranged obliquely of thebrace, the inner ends of the flanges being arranged close together, and terminal portions extending from the opposite ends of said flanges beyond the ends of the web.

3. A brace comprising flanges, a web between them, with the bends between the flanges and web arranged obliquely of the brace, the inner ends of the flanges being arranged close together', and terminal portions extending from the 4opposite ends of said flanges beyond the ends of the web, the flanges having lugs at the ends of the web.

4. A brace comprising flanges and a web between them, the web decreasing in width from its intermediate portion to its ends, and the flanges increasing in width from the intermediate portion of the web to the opposite ends of the flanges.

5. A brace comprising flanges, a web between them, the web decreasing in width from its intermediate portion to its ends, and the flanges increasing in width from the intermediate portion of the web to the opposite ends of the flanges, and terminal portions extending from the opposite ends of said flanges beyond the ends of the web.l

6. A brace comprising flanges, a web between them, the web decreasing in width from its intermediate portion to its ends, and the flanges increasing in width from the intermediate portion of the web to the opposite ends of the flanges, and terminal portions extending from the opposite ends of said flanges beyond the ends of the web, the flanges having lugs at theends of the web.

7. A brace comprising an elongated sheet metal blank bent on oblique lines extending to the opposite edges of the blank, and having a. web between said lines decreasing in width from its intermediate portion to its ends, and having flanges beyond said lines and increasing in width from the intermediate portion ofthe web to the ends of said web.

8.v A brace comprising an elongated sheet metal blank bent on oblique lines extending to the opposite edges of the blank, and having a web between said lines decreasing in width from its intermediate portion to its ends, and having flanges beyond said lines and increasing in width from the intermediate portion of the web to the ends of said web, the inner end portions of said flanges being in overlapping relation.

9: A brace comprising an elongated sheet metal blank bent on oblique lines extending to the opposite edges of the blank, and having a web between said lines decreasing in width from its intermediate portion to its ends, and having flanges beyond saidlines and increasing in width from the intermediate portion of the web to the ends of 'said' web, and terminal portions extending from the opposite ends ofsaid flanges beyond the ends of' the web. l

10. A brace comprising an elongated sheet metal blank bent on oblique lines extending to the opposite edges ofthe blank, and having a web between said lines decreasing in width from its intermediate ortion to its ends, and having flanges beyon said lines and increasing in width from the intermediate ortion of the web to the ends of said we and terminal portions extending from the opposite ends of Said flanges beyond the ends of the web, said flanges having lugs at the ends of the web.

11. A brace formed from an elongated metal blank of substantially uniform width and bent along substantially parallel obilque lines to provide a web decreasing in width from its intermediate portion toward the lll llt

ends of the blank and flanges increasing in width from the intermediate portionof the web to the opposite ends thereof.

12. A brace formed from an elongated blank of substantially uniform width, the blank being bent on substantially parallel oblique lines having their adjacent endportions in overlapping relation and having their opposite ends terminatingshort of the ends of the blank, to yform a web decreasing in width from its intermediate portion to the opposite ends of said lines and flanges increasing in width from the intermediate portion of the web to the ends thereof. 5 13. A bridge of the character described comprising a pair of braces each comprising flanges and a web between them, with the bends between the flanges and web arranged obliquely of the brace and the inner j ends of the flanges being arranged close together, the webs of the braces being pivoted together at the inner ends of the flanges, and said flanges having lugs near the ends of the Webs to engage spaced members, said flanges having bendable terminal portions projecting beyond said lugs.

14. A bridge of the character described comprising a pair of braces each comprising flanges and a web between them, with the o bends between the flanges and web arranged obliquely of the brace and the inner ends of the flanges being arranged close togther, the webs of the braces being pivoted to ether at the inner ends of the flanges, said anges ;5 having portions at the ends of the webs to engage spaced members to receive both cOmpression and tension forces.

15. A brace comprising flanges and a web between them, with the bends between the :o flanges and web arranged obliquely of the brace, and the inner endsof the flanges being arranged close together, said flanges havinfr lugsat the ends of the web to engagespaced members, and said langes having bendable is terminal portions projecting beyond said lugs.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailiX my' signature.

JOHN N. HELTZEL. 

